When I first started the VPLL project I wanted my patterns mailed to me, mostly because I was afraid… but then I realized that if I took a chance and had the patterns sent to me in a PDF file, I would get them quickly. If it didn’t work out, I could always go back to the mail option. There is a wonderful link, HERE to show you, how to download, print and tape, but I thought I’d blog about my success using that page.

I worked on the ladies wrap and unfortunately ironed a big hole in my fashion fabric… so I scrapped that for now. I did make a muslin of the E0291 and blogged about my steps. You can see blog post HERE.

I wanted to share the steps of receiving a pattern in Letter form — to take the uncertainty out of the process. I live in Nanty Glo, PA and do not have ready access to a Kinko’s or Staple’s. I have an HP Deskjet 5550 and some cheap paper. After requesting the #0219 blouse pattern in LTR form and got the password I was good to go. I already checked my printer when I asked for the E0291 Ladies Wrap so I know it is calibrated correctly. If you haven’t done that, click the link, LTR Size Measuring Box and follow the links to make sure your printer will print the correct size.

The pattern itself is 17 pages. This pattern does not have any directions ((Yikes!!)) That is another post for another day. I plan to modernize the pattern and sew it from a pretty blue eyelet remnant I have in my stash… Okay… The printer asked me if I knew I was printing beyond the normal printing surface and I told it I knew… and to proceed.

The pattern itself doesn’t require much ink because it is a few lines on a many pieces of paper… Unfortunately, the registration marks and the Column/Row indications are also not on the printable area. Easy-peasy…

The first thing I did was to take each of the 17 pages and, using the PDF pages on my computer as a reference, transferred the Row # and Column# to each page.

Applying the Row/Column indicators by hand.

The next thing I did was to lay the pattern out on the floor based upon the Column/Row numbers.

The next step was to butt each page up against each other. The registration marks did not print — out of the printable area. No problem. I took 4 pages at a time and made a perfect + and taped the four corners with a tiny piece of tape.

Once the pages were all taped together, the unprintable areas needed to be joined. I just used a small straight edge and joined the lines… while looking at my computer, but mostly using common sense.

Finally, on this particular pattern, one piece, Row 2 of 4, Column 4 of 5 was accidentally placed upside down. How did I know that?? The “E0219” mark, that is in the left/bottom corner of each page was upside-down. So, I corrected that.

There you have it! It took me an hour, tops! I figure it would take me 25 minutes one way and 2 gallons of gas to go to our nearest Staple’s store. I also know how long it takes to open a new pattern and cut all of the pieces out…

Now I need to figure out pattern directions, how to change the straight of grain, lower the neckline, add arm scythes to make separate sleeves and add a little peplum… Whew!! That’s certainly going to be the hardest part of sewing this pattern!! Wish me luck!!